Wealthy Russians seek financial refuge in UK

by Lynn Berry / AP , LONDON

Putin, meanwhile, has accused Britain of harboring Russian "criminals and terrorists." Britain has refused to extradite Boris Berezovsky, a billionaire tycoon and fierce Kremlin foe who was Litvinenko's patron. Russian prosecutors say Britain also has refused to turn over two of Berezovsky's associates and three other Russians who once worked for Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who was the wealthiest man in Russia in 2004.

Most of the Russian children come for the final two years of school and then stay for university. There were 383 new Russian pupils at the beginning of the 2006-2007 school year, showing a steady increase over past years, said a census by the Independent Schools Council. More than 2,000 Russians are enrolled in British universities.